Celtic’s pre-season preparations are already showing signs of success, according to right-back Anthony Ralston, who says the team is physically and mentally benefitting from their warm-weather training camp in Portugal.
Now a senior figure in Brendan Rodgers’ squad, the 26-year-old has been through countless pre-seasons with Celtic. But this year’s camp, he says, is proving especially valuable in setting the tone for a demanding season ahead.
With Rodgers and his staff using the time to re-establish key tactical principles and introduce new tweaks, Ralston believes the tough double sessions are helping players quickly adjust to both the physical demands and evolving style of play.
As a lifelong Celtic supporter, Ralston understands what it takes to meet expectations at the club. And with the new campaign fast approaching, he’s confident the groundwork being laid now will pay dividends.
He said: (Celtic TV), “It has been good. It has been nice getting all the boys back together.
“It has been hard work on the pitch, to say the least. It has been tough. We got a bit lucky the first few days here, as the weather wasn’t as warm, but the sessions have been really hard, and the boys have been putting the work in.
“Off the pitch, it has been nice with the bit of time that we’ve had to spend together, going for a walk and getting a coffee and stuff like that – it has been nice.
“We have had a good run of training sessions now, so the gaffer and the coaching staff can implement how they want the style of play to be played, because not all seasons are the same; you adapt your game.
“There have been things that have been fine-tuned and from kind of our old habits, just kind of getting the boys back into the swing of things. And then there have been some new things added which we have all had to get to grips with through our walkthroughs, whether it’s possession-based or whatever it may be, positionally.
“The gaffer and the coaching staff, they drum it in quite quickly, so it has been very clear what we need to do.
“You feel it (the double sessions) in your body, but it gets your body prepared for going into the season and how busy our schedule is with a game every couple of days. It gets you ready for that, so we’ll be in a good place come that. Even though I’ve only done a couple of the double sessions, some of the lads have done more.
“I feel my body adapting already to the stress load that gets put on my body through that.”
As Celtic prepare for another campaign filled with domestic expectations and European ambitions, the intensity of their Portugal camp reflects Rodgers’ intent to hit the ground running.
Ralston’s comments offer a window into the team’s collective mindset: united, determined, and open to both tactical adjustments and physical challenges.
With competition for places fiercer than ever, the work being done now will play a huge role in shaping who’s ready to contribute when the serious action begins.
And if Ralston’s early signs of adaptation are anything to go by, Celtic’s preparation may already be ahead of schedule.
